ODJ: the guardian of truth
Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you (v.14).
READ: 2 Timothy 1:1-14
A December 2008 report released by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life listed this startling finding: Fifty-two percent of Christians in the US who attend churches that believe Jesus is the only way of salvation accept this idea: “Some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life.” In an earlier 2008 survey, only 39 percent of the Christian respondents said they believed that the Bible is the literal Word of God.
Living in a pluralistic and increasingly religion-intolerant world, we feel the pressure to become socially and politically correct—to not be exclusive in our faith views. At the same time, those who view the Bible as just a book written by men—not God’s Word—see no reason to believe what it teaches.
The apostle Paul warned of a time when “people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching” and “will reject the truth” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). To counter and correct this kind of biblical compromise and rejection, we are to “carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14; 1 Timothy 6:20). To guard the truth, these things are necessary:
• Obey the truth (Deuteronomy 4:6).
• Teach the truth to our children (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).
• Study the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).
• Test the truth (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
• Hold on to the truth (2 Timothy 1:13).
• Teach the truth to others (2 Timothy 2:2).
We have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to help us (1:14), and to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). The Spirit will “carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:14). —K.T. Sim
How are you consistently growing in your knowledge and personal application of God’s truth? Why is it important both to believe the truth and to live it out?
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Loading ...My Way, Your Way, or His Way? (Part 1)
By Eugene Seah, Singapore
Whom Do I Listen To?
Self-doubting and self-questioning of the pros and cons in decision-making; self-comforting and self-condoning in wrongdoings have probably become a part of our lives.
I have often received remarks from my family and friends about my actions, lifestyle, decisions, and attitude. More often than not, those who are in favor with what I’m doing never fail to spur me on. On the contrary, those who oppose could get on my nerves for their opinions run contrary with what I desire and set out to do.
I begin to question myself, “Fake or genuine? Am I being influenced or accepting my identity?”
Most of us struggle with the correct move and decision forward. Often, we succumb to the easier way out—either by conforming to the popular opinion or do as what our hearts desire. Some of us live by the values held by our friends. We use their scales. After all, going with the majority shares the sin, isn’t it? This is the norm of our time and age. Others live by the scales of our loved ones who play a big role in our upbringing. If the majority of our family members object to a matter, then for this particular matter, the decision ought to be a “no” for sure, isn’t it?
I find it particularly dreadful when I am all fired up and convicted for whatever cause; and then is thrown off into the wind of uncertainty—or the tidal wave of doubts—yet again!
The chorus of “Who Am I” by Casting Crowns goes:
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And You’ve told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Sometimes I feel like a wave thrown about in a sea of doubt and contemplation; like a vapor taken along with the majority.
In moments like these, James 1:5-8 offers me great comfort. It states: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ODB: precious fruit
November 19, 2009
READ: Galatians 5:22-26
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. —Galatians 5:22-23
How much would you be willing to pay for a piece of fruit? In Japan, someone paid more than $6,000 for one Densuke watermelon. Grown only on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, this beautiful dark-green sphere looks like a bowling ball. The nearly 18-pound watermelon was one of only a few thousand available that year. The fruit’s rarity brought an astronomical price on the market.
Christians have fruit that is far more precious than the Densuke watermelon. It’s called the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). Each “fruit” is a different aspect of Christlikeness. In the Gospels, we see how Christ exemplified these virtues. Now He wants to produce them in our hearts—in what we say, how we think, and how we respond to life (John 15:1-4).
A rare and delicious fruit may bring a premium price in the marketplace, but Christlike character is of far greater worth. As we confess all known sin and yield to God’s indwelling Spirit, our lives will be transformed to the likeness of Christ (1 John 1:9; Eph. 5:18). This spiritual fruit will fill our lives with joy, bless those around us, and last into eternity. — Dennis Fisher
Fruitfulness for Christ depends on fellowship with Christ.
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